Miami Marlins rivals may not be for real this season

I'm usually good with my season predictions and I had some before the season. It has been a good season for the New York Mets and it's stunning actually. The Miami Marlins are playing better than the Washington Nationals and the Atlanta Braves. Not far behind the Philadelphia Phillies. Peter Bendix did his job well, but Steve Cohen's spending has turned around the Mets. Did they turn the corner?

Are Miami Marlins division rivals for real this season?

The New York Mets only clinched the playoffs on the last day of the season last season, after the Arizona Diamondbacks lost their game as well. They did get hot at the right time however and make it all the way to the National League Championship Series, before losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Are they for real this season? It might shock you, but if they didn't play as well as they are right now, the Miami Marlins would've had at least a theoretical shot at the division.

Closer Edwin Diaz has a 4.91 ERA and a matching FIP. He's not doing his job and looking at the bullpen as a whole it doesnt really excite me, but they're winning games. First baseman Pete Alonso is having a red-hot beginning to his season. He's batting .349/.452/.698, albeit with a .364 BABIP. That BABIP will go down as will his production. SS Francisco Lindor is his old good self. RF Juan Soto is yet to get hot, batting .233/.362/.395 with a .246 BABIP. I expect him and Alonso to ultimately "switch places".

The rotation however has been the Mets' biggest asset despite looking like a weakness before the season. David Peterson has a 3.27 ERA, though his projections going forward call for an ERA over 4.00. Griffin Canning has a 3.12 ERA, but a 3.88 xERA and projected for an ERA close to 5.00. Tylor Megill has a sparkling 1.09 ERA but is projected for a an ERA around 4.00 going forward.

It certainly looks like the Mets are overachieving, and that they are simply not this good. This is good for the Miami Marlins.